Hongsloi Apisto (Apistogramma hongsloi) Care Guide
Apistogramma hongsloi is a Colombian and Venezuelan dwarf cichlid from the Orinoco basin, tolerant of a wide range of conditions.
Overview
Apistogramma hongsloi is a dwarf cichlid described by Kullander in 1979. It comes from the Orinoco River system of Colombia and Venezuela and is among the more adaptable members of the genus.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cichlidae
- Genus: Apistogramma
- Scientific name: Apistogramma hongsloi
- Described by: Kullander, 1979
Habitat
Seriously Fish and FishBase place the species in the Rio Vichada and middle Rio Meta drainages in Colombia and along the middle Orinoco system in Venezuela. It inhabits small tributaries and still waters.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L
- Temperature: 24-28 C (75-82 F)
- pH: 5.0-7.0
- GH: 2-8 dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
Diet
This is a primarily meat-eating fish that consumes benthic invertebrates in nature (Seriously Fish). In captivity it prefers live and frozen foods such as Artemia, Daphnia and chironomid larvae (bloodworm); most specimens accept dried pellets in preference to flake.
Compatibility
According to Seriously Fish, captive-bred specimens suit community tanks, whereas wild-caught fish do best alone or with small dither fish such as Nannostomus or Micropoecilia species, and should not be housed with other Apistogramma.
Breeding
It is a substrate spawner that typically lays eggs in crevices or cavities among the decor. The female guards the eggs and fry; in smaller tanks the male may require removal because she can become aggressive during broodcare.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 3 August 2020), per FishBase.